Assam for ‘ruthless’ quarantine of entrants
Institutional quarantine must for all people coming to state
The Assam Cabinet decided Wednesday to follow a “ruthless” institutional quarantine policy, with home quarantine not allowed for all those entering the state, as the number of Covid19 cases rose by 18 to reach 704. One of the 18 flew from Ahmedabad on Monday.
Every returnee must strictly observe seven days of facility quarantine or till his/her negative test report comes in and go for home quarantine for the remaining days of the 14-day period.
During home quarantine, the entire household will face restrictions, and no family member can leave the house.
There are some exceptions. Those arriving and leaving the same day will not be quarantined.
Following the policy of ruthless implementation of quarantine protocol, the Assam Cabinet has decided that home quarantine will not be allowed to people coming from outside and they will be sent for institutional quarantine, as the number of coronavirus positive cases rose by 18 on Wednesday to reach 704. Among 18 positive, one travelled by air from Ahmedabad to Guwahati on Monday.
Pointing out that ruthless quarantine was the only option to check the transmission of coronavirus in the community, Cabinet minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the cabinet while deliberating on prevailing scenario stressed the need for strict institutional quarantine of people coming from outside.
The state quarantine SOP requires every returnee to strictly observe seven days of facility quarantine or till his test report with negative result come and then proceed for home quarantine for the remaining days of the 14-days quarantine period. During the period of home quarantine, the entire household will be put under home quarantine and no family member can leave the house. A person will be allowed to go on home quarantine from institutional quarantine only after his test result is negative.
Earlier, when the inflow of people was minimal, everyone was put in institutional quarantine for the entire 14 days.
There are few exceptions too. People arriving by and returning on the same day will not be quarantined.
A category of travellers, who are exempted from institutional quarantine, but not from 14-day home quarantine are pregnant women, people above 75 years of age, the differently abled, people with children below 10 years, and people who have come to visit their parents or immediate family members who are in hospitals and people coming to attend last rites of their parents or immediate family members. Even visiting VVIPs, including governors, union ministers or ministers of other states who arrive will be exempted from general quarantine norms, but will have to stay in government bhawans or guest houses.
DURING THE period of home quarantine, the entire household will be put under home quarantine and no family member can leave the house.